Book Review: Following the Moon by James Norbury

 

It's xenofiction with a wolf in it. Of course I had to read it. Spoilers ahead.

Amaya is a young dog puppy who has lost her family. Alone in the world, she encounters a wolf pack, who attack her. She is saved by an elderly and wise wolf (aptly named Wolf). The duo befriend one another and decide to go on a quest to find Amaya's family. They do this in the only way they know how: by following the moon and hoping it'll take them to their destination.

This was a beautiful book. It's atmospheric, it's heart-wrenching, it's beautiful, it's sometimes a bit scary, but it's overall a great read.

The highlight for me really was the relationship between Amaya and the Wolf. They're not even super original characters, but they're still so well-written and their relationship is super wholesome and just feels real. How the Wolf was willing to leave his pack just so save and help Amaya even though he's dying is beautiful and heartfelt. The Wolf almost becomes like a new parental figure to Amaya, before he ultimately passes away from weakness and his injuries. From then on, Amaya is once again alone.

The story is also richly illustrated by beautiful drawings in various styles. It really added to the overall atmosphere of the book. I practically felt like I was joining Amaya and the Wolf on their journey myself while reading it.

The book also really knows how to hit you with emotions well. From Amaya's devastation at losing her parents, to her being attacked by the wolf pack, to her being saved by the wise Wolf and developing a friendship with him, to his ultimate death, to Amaya finally continuing her journey with her new friend, a tiny kitten. It's just a very sad and heart-wrenching story, but it also ends on a bittersweet note.

I do want to say that the book does end on an open ending. Amaya, after losing the Wolf, is alone for a while and befriends a lost kitten. From that point on they decide to follow the moon together and continue the journey. But whether they find Amaya's parents, or the cat's family, remains to be seen and we don't even know how the journey will continue. I hope this is setup for a sequel. It'd also be a solid ending if this was a one-installment book, but it'd be more satisfying if we could see where the moon ended up taking Amaya and the kitten, whatever that destination may be. Right now we end the book while the journey is not quite complete yet.

Overall though this is an absolutely beautiful book I definitely recommend. It has distinct characters and really knows how to tug on your heartstrings.

Rating: 5/5